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United States Patent |
6,082,544
|
Romick
|
July 4, 2000
|
Medicine unit dose dispensing system and method
Abstract
The present invention provides a system for exchanging medication blister
strips that includes a reusable dispensing frame that holds a plurality of
reusable blister strip cartridges. A medicine filled blister strip having
individually sealed spaced blisters is dropped down onto each blister
strip cartridge base when a locking arm is in an open position and then is
locked thereto when the locking arm is moved into a closed position, the
locking arm including an open hold down frame for each individual blister,
through which the blister is visually exposed, thereby locating the
blister strip in operative assembly with the cartridge. The cartridge also
includes a pillbox with an identification card having information indicia,
the card being attachable to the top. The information indicia is readable
through slots in the top, floor, and dispensing frame floor, and from
beneath the dispensing frame floor when the cartridge is functionally
engaged with the dispensing frame.
Inventors:
|
Romick; J. M. (Columbus, OH)
|
Assignee:
|
Artromick International, Inc. (Columbus, OH)
|
Appl. No.:
|
241170 |
Filed:
|
February 1, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: |
206/531; 206/534; 206/539 |
Intern'l Class: |
B65D 085/58 |
Field of Search: |
206/528,531,534,534.1,538,539,232,470,562
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3397671 | Aug., 1968 | Hartman, Jr. et al.
| |
3494322 | Feb., 1970 | Dubbels.
| |
3527190 | Sep., 1970 | Hack.
| |
3530818 | Sep., 1970 | Secondino.
| |
3579883 | May., 1971 | Hayes.
| |
3584598 | Jun., 1971 | Gayle et al.
| |
3587517 | Jun., 1971 | Fites.
| |
3630171 | Dec., 1971 | Huck.
| |
3921804 | Nov., 1975 | Tester | 206/531.
|
4039080 | Aug., 1977 | Cappuccilli.
| |
4084695 | Apr., 1978 | Halbich.
| |
4253572 | Mar., 1981 | Halbich.
| |
4372445 | Feb., 1983 | Keffeler.
| |
4384649 | May., 1983 | Brodsky.
| |
4817819 | Apr., 1989 | Kelly.
| |
4974729 | Dec., 1990 | Steinnagel.
| |
4998623 | Mar., 1991 | Doull.
| |
5251757 | Oct., 1993 | Relyea et al.
| |
5265728 | Nov., 1993 | Allendorf et al.
| |
5323907 | Jun., 1994 | Kalvelage.
| |
5377839 | Jan., 1995 | Relyea et al. | 206/531.
|
5489025 | Feb., 1996 | Romick | 206/531.
|
5542236 | Aug., 1996 | Miller.
| |
5735406 | Apr., 1998 | Keffeler | 206/538.
|
5878887 | Mar., 1999 | Parker et al. | 206/531.
|
Primary Examiner: Sewell; Paul T.
Assistant Examiner: Bui; Luan K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A medication dispensing system for dispensing unit doses of medication
from a blister strip, the blister strip comprising a series of blister
members each sealed by a frangible membrane, and each containing a unit
dose of medicine, said system comprising:
a dispensing frame having a plurality of longitudinally arranged frame
holes defined in a frame floor, said dispensing frame having a frame lock
member; and
a blister strip cartridge for selectable engagement with said dispensing
frame, said cartridge having a cartridge lock member engageable with said
frame lock member for locking said dispensing frame and said cartridge in
operational assembly, said cartridge having a base and a swingable locking
arm each of which define a plurality of longitudinally arranged cartridge
holes adapted to overlie said frame holes when said dispensing frame and
said cartridge are operatively assembled, said swingable locking arm being
movable from a capture position substantially overlying said base to trap
a blister strip therebetween and a release position uncovering said base,
said cartridge having a pill box for holding a unit dose of medicine, said
box having a top, wherein said top is swingably attached to said pill box
for selectively moving said top from a closed position, sealing said box,
to an open position allowing a user to gain access to the interior of said
box, said top having a top lip which overlies said locking arm when said
locking arm is in said capture position and said top is in said closed
position, wherein a trapped blister strip can be removed from said
cartridge, said cartridge and said dispensing frame being structured so
that said locking arm can be swung between said release and capture
positions whether said cartridge is engaged or not in operative assembly
with said dispensing frame.
2. The dispensing system of claim 1, said dispensing frame further
comprising:
a partition substantially coextensive with said frame defining a plurality
of longitudinal rows.
3. The dispensing system of claim 2, wherein said frame lock member is
attached to said partition.
4. The dispensing system of claim 1, said cartridge further comprising:
a tab attached to said locking arm; and
a catch attached to said base for receiving said tab when said locking arm
is in said capture position to secure said locking arm in said capture
position.
5. The dispensing system of claim 1, said cartridge further comprising at
least one pawl attached to said locking arm to locate the blister strip
within said cartridge when said locking arm is in said capture position.
6. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said locking arm has a seat
portion for receiving said top lip when said locking arm is in said
capture position and said top is in said closed position.
7. The dispensing system of claim 1, said pillbox further comprising at
least one friction member on said top for engaging said box in order to
secure said top in said closed position.
8. A medication dispensing system for dispensing unit doses of medication
contained in a blister strip, the blister strip having a series of blister
members each sealed by a frangible membrane, and each containing a unit
dose of medicine, said system comprising:
a dispensing frame having a frame floor, a frame slot defined in said frame
floor, and a frame lock member;
a blister strip cartridge for selectable engagement with said dispensing
frame, said cartridge having a cartridge lock member connectable with said
frame lock member for locking said dispensing frame and said cartridge in
functional relationship;
a pillbox mounted on said cartridge, said pillbox having a floor and a box
slot defined in said floor, said box slot substantially overlying said
frame slot when said cartridge is in functional engagement with said
dispensing frame, said pillbox having a top moveable from an open position
allowing access to said box to a closed position sealing said box, said
box top having a top slot substantially overlying said box slot when said
top is in said closed position; and
an identification card having a front and a back, said card back having
information indicia marked thereon, said card being attachable to said top
so that said indicia is readable through each of said top slot, said box
slot, and said frame slot when said top is in said closed position and
said cartridge is in functional assembly with said dispensing frame.
9. The dispensing system of claim 8, wherein said frame has at least one
detent attached thereto.
10. The dispensing system of claim 9, wherein said blister strip cartridge
has at least one block attached thereto for engaging said detent on said
dispensing frame to place said cartridge in operational engagement with
said dispensing frame.
11. The medication dispensing system of claim 8, wherein said dispensing
frame defines a plurality of longitudinally positioned holes.
12. The dispensing system of claim 11, wherein said cartridge defines a
plurality of cartridge holes that substantially overlie said frame holes
when said cartridge is operationally engaged with said dispensing frame.
13. The dispensing system of claim 8, wherein said information indicia
marked on said back of said card is readable through said frame slot when
said cartridge is operationally engaged with said dispensing frame and
said top is in said closed position.
14. The dispensing system of claim 8, further comprising a locking arm
swingably attached to said cartridge, said locking arm moveable from a
capture position substantially overlying said cartridge to a release
position uncovering said cartridge, said locking arm defining arm holes
substantially overlying said cartridge holes when said locking arm is in
said capture position, wherein said top substantially overlies said
locking arm when said locking arm is in said capture position and said top
is in said closed position.
15. The dispensing system of claim 8, said pillbox further comprised of:
a box divider substantially coextensive with said box, said divider
preventing a unit dose of medicine in said box from overlying said box
slot.
16. A periodic medication dispensing system for dispensing prepackaged unit
doses of medication contained in a blister strip having at least one
blister member with a unit dose of medication held therein by a frangible
membrane, said system comprised of:
a dispensing frame having a first lip, a second lip, a frame surface, a
frame length, at least one partition substantially coextensive with said
frame surface, a plurality of longitudinally arranged holes corresponding
to the days of the week defined in said frame surface, and a frame slot
defined in said frame surface, said first and second lips having
respective first and second lip heights, said dispensing frame having at
least one detent attached thereto; and
a blister strip cartridge for selectable engagement with said dispensing
frame, said cartridge having a length substantially coextensive with said
dispensing frame, a cartridge base defining a plurality of base holes, at
least one block on said base for placing said base in operational
engagement with said dispensing frame, an cartridge first end defining a
notch to facilitate placing said cartridge in functional engagement with
said dispensing frame, an cartridge second end forming a living hinge with
a locking arm moveable from a capture position overlying said base to a
release position raised from said base, said locking arm defining arm
holes that substantially overlie said base holes when said locking arm is
in said capture position, wherein the blister strip is locatable on said
base so that the frangible membrane is frictionally engaged with said
base, said locking arm capturing the blister strip when said locking arm
is in said capture position, said locking arm having a tab selectively
engageable with a catch attached to said cartridge base, said base having
a pair of oppositely disposed flanges to aid in locating said locking arm
in said capture position, wherein said cartridge has a pillbox with a
floor defining a box slot substantially overlying said frame slot when
said cartridge is operationally engaged with said dispensing frame, a box
outer wall, a top swingably attached to said pillbox, said top moveable
from a closed position sealing said box to an open position allowing a
user access to the inside of said box, said top defining a top slot that
substantially overlies said box slot when said top is in said closed
position, said pillbox having at least one friction member located on said
top for securing said top in said closed position, and a box lip that
overlays a portion of said locking arm when said locking arm is in said
capture position and said top is in said closed position, said top being
adapted to receive an identification card having electronically scannable
information thereon, said information being scannable through said top
slot, said box slot, and said frame slot when said top is in said closed
position and said cartridge is operationally engaged with said dispensing
frame.
17. A method of exchanging a blister strip in a reusable medication
dispensing system, said system comprising a dispensing frame, and a
blister strip cartridge selectively engageable with and disengageable from
said frame, said cartridge having a cartridge base for receiving a blister
strip, a swingable locking arm attached to said cartridge for capturing
said blister strip in assembled relation with said base, and a pill box
with a top moveable from a closed position adjacent to and overlying a
portion of said locking arm to an open position removed from said locking
arm, said method comprising the steps of:
moving said pill box top from said closed position to said open position;
swinging said locking arm between a capture position securedly holding said
blister strip in operative engagement with said cartridge base and a
release position allowing said blister strip to be disengaged from said
base, said swinging step being performable whether said cartridge is
operationally engaged with said dispensing frame or not as desired by the
user;
removing a first blister strip from assembled relation with said base when
said locking arm is in said release position;
dropping a second blister strip into assembled relation with said base
while said locking arm is in said release position;
swinging said locking arm to said capture position from said release
position; and
moving said pill box top from said open position to said closed position.
18. A method of reading an identification card with information indicia
thereon as used in a medicine unit dose dispensing system, said system
comprising a dispensing frame with a frame slot in a frame floor, a
blister strip cartridge having a pillbox with a floor slot and a top slot,
said dispensing frame having a frame lock member and said cartridge having
a cartridge lock member for holding said dispensing frame and cartridge in
operative combination, said method comprising the steps of:
assembling said identification card with said pillbox so that at least a
portion of said information indicia is visible through said top slot,
connecting said cartridge with said dispensing frame so that said frame
slot, floor slot and top slot are substantially aligned; and
reading that portion of said information indicia visible through said top
slot from the underside of said frame floor through said frame slot, said
floor slot and said top slot.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to medicine dosing systems. More specifically, this
invention relates to a system for dispensing unit doses of medication from
a reusable dispensing cartridge that uses medication blister strips.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medication dispensing systems, wherein a healthcare provider such as a
long-term care center periodically receives pre-filled medication
dispensing containers in exchange for previously used and empty similar
containers, have taken various forms and are known to the prior art. For
example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,649, unit doses of medication
that are individually packaged within disposable blister-type packs have
been contained within reusable plastic dispensers, the medication unit
dose being dispensed from the blister pack using finger-strength pressure.
In this two-piece dispensing package, the blister pack and its cover is
held within an outer shell, whereupon closing of the outer shell forces a
cutting edge thereof into contact with the blister pack cover, thereby
forming a seal around each blister pack pocket. Other exchangeable unit
dose systems have also been available, such as those shown in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,084,695, 4,253,572, and 4,372,445. These patents generally describe
plastic pillbox designs which receive a plurality of unit dose tablets of
the like. The pillbox is sealed by a clear plastic cover having a
plurality of frangible portions which enable individual compartments of
the pillbox to be separately opened for dispensing operations. The cover
can be provided of a relatively clear or transparent material to provide
visual access to the medication compartments. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,839,
a disposable blister strip is slidably insertable into a reusable
medication cartridge which, in turn, is slidably insertable into a
reusable frame. But, when a unit dose of medicine is forced through a
membrane sealing the blister strip, torn portions of the membrane are left
protruding through openings in the cartridge and frame, and it proves
difficult to remove a spent blister strip from the cartridge with this
system.
Another prior art unit-dose medication handling system comprises a
medication tray having a plurality of dividers for defining compartments
for receiving unit-dose dispensing boxes. The dispensing boxes are
generally made of cardboard and are adapted to receive a plurality of
unit-dose packs of medication. The unit doses may be in the form of
separate vials, capsules, envelopes, or strip packs. A pressure sensitive
label is adhered to the box for identification. A tray can be used for a
single patient, wherein a plurality of prescription boxes can be placed in
the adjacent compartments, with a pharmacist filling each box with a
predetermined number of unit doses. A tray can also be disposed on a shelf
of a moveable medication cart for use in dispensing procedures.
While there have been a variety of exchangeable unit dosing systems, such
as described above, each has its own shortcomings. Generally speaking,
there has not been available a single system which combines the advantages
of using a pharmaceutical manufacturer's own unit dose medication
packaging with the practical benefits of a reusable medicine dosage
dispenser to minimize inventory and re-ordering requirements, eliminate
medication re-packaging and product waste, increase medication security,
and increase patient security, yet is simple and easy to use. The
exchangeable systems described above do not offer all of the advantages in
a single and relatively simple medicine unit dose dispensing system.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a medication dosing
system in which a fresh blister strip is more easily inserted into, and a
spent blister strip removed from, a modular reusable blister strip
cartridge.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a medication
dosing system in which a user can more easily place a reusable blister
strip cartridge in functional engagement with and remove it from, a
reusable dispensing frame particularly adapted to receive plural such
cartridges.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a medication
dosing system in which a user may more easily determine medicine and
patient information from an identification card integral with the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objectives of the present invention are achieved with a medicine unit
dose dispensing system that allows a user to use original blister strip
pre-packaging in a unit dose medication system that has a reusable
dispensing frame with a plurality of frame rows, each row having a
plurality of longitudinally positioned frame holes adapted to overlie the
individual unit dose blisters of a medicine filled blister strip. Also
defined in each frame row is a frame slot. A separable and reusable
blister strip cartridge securely holds the blister strip in operative
assembly with the cartridge through use of a locking arm moveable between
release and capture positions relative to a cartridge base. Both the
cartridge base and the locking arm define a plurality of holes which
substantially overlie the frame holes when the cartridge is placed in
functional engagement with the frame. Unit doses of medication are
dispensed through the holes in the cartridge and subsequently pass through
the holes in the frame when a user applies pressure to a blister member
for breaking a frangible membrane and releasing a single unit dose. An
empty blister strip can be removed from and a filled blister strip can be
located in assembly with, the cartridge whether that cartridge is
assembled with the master dispensing frame or not.
The cartridge also has a pillbox for holding an extra unit dose of
medicine, if desired. The pillbox has a floor and a top, each with
respective slots which overlay the frame slot when the cartridge is placed
in functional engagement with the frame. An identification card having
electronically scannable bar code information indicia is attached to the
box top so that the bar code is readable through the box top slot, box
floor slot, and frame slot when the cartridge is functionally engaged with
the frame and scanned from beneath the dispensing frame floor.
In the preferred method of the present invention, a user places the
cartridge in functional engagement with the frame so that each of the
cartridge holes and arm holes, and box floor slot and box top slot
substantially overlie the respective frame holes and frame slot, when the
locking arm is in a capture position and the box top is in the closed
position. The user then places the box top in an open position and lifts
the locking arm into a release position uncovering the cartridge's base.
The user then drops a blister strip containing unit doses of medicine onto
the cartridge base so that each unit dose of medicine substantially
overlies a respective cartridge hole, and then swings the arm back to the
capture position. The user places a single unit dose of medication in the
pillbox and moves the box top back to the closed position. The user then
attaches an information card having electronically readable bar code
information on one side to the box top so that the bar code information is
readable through the box slot and frame slot when the cartridge is in
functional engagement with the frame.
Other advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those of
ordinary skill upon review of the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view of the present inventive
medication dispensing system and method;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a medicine cartridge in functional
engagement with a medicine frame;
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of the dispensing system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of a blister strip captured in the
cartridge in functional relationship with the frame; and
FIG. 5 is a cross section of FIG. 4 taken along line 5--5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a medication dispensing system 10 has a
dispensing frame 12 for holding plural blister strip cartridges 14, the
blister strip cartridge 14 adapted to receive a medicine blister strip 16.
The dispensing frame 12 has a frame surface 18 having a top wall 20, a
bottom wall 22, a first lip 24, and a second lip 26. In the preferred
embodiment, the top and bottom walls 20, 22 are of substantially equal
height, while the first lip 24 and the second lip 26 each have heights
generally lower than that of the top and bottom wall 20, 22. The frame
surface 18 defines a plurality of longitudinally positioned frame holes
28. In the preferred embodiment, a partition 30 subdivides the frame
surface 18 into plural rows 32. In the preferred embodiment, detents 34
are formed on the partition 30, the top wall 20, and the bottom wall 22
for receiving a block 36 on the blister strip cartridge 14 in order to
place the blister strip cartridge 14 in functional engagement with the
dispensing frame 12 as further discussed below. The frame surface 18 also
defines a frame slot 38 in each row 32, the frame slot 38 substantially
aligning with an analogous box slot 40 and top slot 42, each defined in
the blister strip cartridge 14, as further discussed below.
The blister strip cartridge 14 has a total length L that is substantially
coextensive with the total frame length F, as seen in FIG. 4. The blister
strip cartridge 14 is generally comprised of a base 44, a locking arm 46
and a pillbox 48. The cartridge base 44 has blocks 36 attached to edges of
the base 44 that cooperate with the detents 34 on the dispensing frame 12
to secure the blister strip cartridge 14 in functional relationship with
dispensing frame 12. The cartridge base 44 defines a plurality of base
holes 50 which substantially overlie the frame holes 28 when the blister
strip cartridge 14 is operationally engaged with the dispensing frame 12.
The blister strip cartridge 14 has an cartridge second end 52 that
substantially abuts the frame second lip 26 and an cartridge first end 53
proximate to the first lip 24 when the blister strip cartridge 14 is in
operational engagement with the dispensing frame 12. The locking arm 46 is
attached to the cartridge second end 52 with a hinge 54 in order to allow
the locking arm 46 to move from a capture position substantially overlying
the cartridge base 44, to a release position in which is the locking arm
46 is raised away from the cartridge base 44, as seen in FIGS. 1-4. In the
preferred embodiment, the hinge 54 attaching the locking arm 46 to the
cartridge second end 52 of the blister strip cartridge 14 is a living
hinge. The locking arm 46 has a hinge wall 56, a lock wall 58, opposing
side walls 60a, 60b, 15 and a base cover 62. The cover 62 defines arm
holes 64 that substantially overlie the base holes 50 when the locking arm
46 is in the capture position.
The locking arm 46 is secured to the cartridge base 44 with a catch tab 66
located on the lock wall 58. The tab 66 frictionally engages an L-shaped
catch 68 depending from the base 44. The box 48, located adjacent to the
cartridge first end 53, has opposing box sides 72a, 72b, outer and inner
box walls 74, 76, a top 78, a floor 77, and a divider 80. The top 78 has a
hinge edge 79 and a lip edge 81 and is swingably attached to the cartridge
first end 53 of the blister strip cartridge 14 in order to move from a
closed position engaged with the top edges of the outer and inner box
walls 74, 76, and opposing box sides 72a, 72b, to an open position
allowing a user access to the interior of the box 48. In the preferred
embodiment, the top 78 is attached to the cartridge first end 53 with a
box hinge 82, i.e., a living hinge. When the top 78 is in the closed
position, friction members 84 engage the top edge of the inner box wall 76
in order to maintain the top 78 in its closed position. The top 78 has a
lip 86 extending from the lip edge 81 which overlays an arm seat 88 when
the locking arm 46 is in the capture position and the top 78 is in the
closed position.
As seen in FIG. 4, there is a gap G between the outer box wall 74 and the
frame first lip 24 when the cartridge is in functional engagement with the
dispensing frame 12. The gap G, which is substantially the difference
between the length of the box B and the distance D between the box inner
wall 76 and the cartridge first end 53 of the blister strip cartridge 14,
allows a user to place the blister strip cartridge 14 against the frame
surface 18 before sliding the blocks 36 on the cartridge into functional
engagement with the detents 34 on the dispensing frame 12. The box slot 40
is defined in the floor 77 so that it substantially overlays the frame
slot 38 when the blister strip cartridge 14 is in functional engagement
with the dispensing frame 12, as seen in FIG. 5. Likewise, the top slot 42
defined in the top 78 substantially overlays the box slot 40 when the top
78 is in its closed position.
When the locking arm 46 is raised to its release position and the top 78 is
raised to its open position, the hinge wall 56 of the locking arm 46 and
the hinge edge 79 of the top 78 tilt out over the respective second and
first frame lips 26, 24 which, when the blister strip cartridge 14 is in
functional engagement with the dispensing frame 12, do not rise high
enough on the cartridge's respective cartridge first and second ends 52,
53 so as to interfere with the movement of the locking arm 46 and the top
78 as they move to their respective release and open positions.
In the preferred embodiment, the locking arm 46 captures a blister strip 16
against the cartridge base 44. The blister strip 16 has plural blister
members 92, each enclosing a unit dose of medicine 94 with a portion of a
frangible membrane 96, the portion of the frangible membrane 96 sealing a
discrete blister member 92 has an electronically scannable bar code (not
shown) marked on its surface. When a user breaks the membrane 96 to
release a unit dose 94, the bar code on the membrane 96 is torn and no
longer is able to be scanned. The frangible membrane 96 is placed in
frictional engagement with the base 44 so that the blister members 92
substantially overlie the base holes 50. In the preferred embodiment, the
blister strip 16 defines perforations 98 between each blister member 92 so
that a user may select how many unit doses 94 to capture by simply
separating a desired number of blister members 92 from the remainder of
the blister strip 16.
In the preferred embodiment, in order to facilitate the capture of the
blister strip 16, and to locate the locking arm 46 in the capture
position, the blister strip cartridge 14 has a pair of oppositely disposed
upwardly directed flanges 100 along opposite edges of the blister strip
cartridge 14. Also in the preferred embodiment, the locking arm 46 defines
a space 102 adjacent to the lock wall 58, into which a pair of pawls 104
extend from the cover 62. The pawls 104 help to locate the blister strip
16 on the cartridge base 44 so as to locate each blister member 92
substantially over a respective base hole 50.
In the preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 2, the top 78 has a top side
106 onto which an identification card 108 is placed in frictional
engagement and secured thereto by tabs 110 attached to raised edges 112
along the margin of top 78. The identification card 108 has a front 114
and a back 116, the front 114 having front information indicia 118
imprinted thereon, e.g., a patient's name and prescription information,
and the back having back information indicia 120 imprinted thereon,
preferably in the form of a bar code readable with an electronic scanner
known in the art (not shown). The back information indicia 120 would also
contain patient information, e.g., the patient's name and prescription
information. When the identification card 108 is frictionally engaged with
the top 78, the information indicia 120 is readable with the electronic
scanner through the top slot 42 and the box slot 40 when the top 78 is
placed in the closed position. Also, the bar code is readable through the
frame slot 38 when the cartridge is in functional engagement with the
dispensing frame 12 and the top 78 is placed in the closed position, as
seen in FIG. 5.
In the method of the present inventive medicine dispensing system 10, a
user assembles the blister strip cartridge 14 to the dispensing frame 12
by first placing the blister strip cartridge 14 against the dispensing
frame 12 and then adjusting the blister strip cartridge 14 so that the
cartridge base 44 is frictionally engaged with the frame surface 18. Next,
the user slides the blister strip cartridge 14 along the frame surface 18
so that the blocks 36 on the blister strip cartridge 14 move against the
detents 34 on the dispensing frame 12, thereby, placing the blister strip
cartridge 14 in functional engagement with the dispensing frame 12. The
user swings the top 78 to its open position and swings the locking arm 46
to its release position. The user then drops a blister strip 16 in
frictional engagement with the cartridge base 44 so that each blister
member 92 substantially overlies a respective base hole 50. The locking
arm 46 is then swung to its capture position, thereby, capturing the
blister strip 16 against the cartridge base 44, each blister member 92
rising through a respective arm hole 64 which substantially overlies a
respective base hole 50. The user then inserts a single blister member 92
with a unit dose of medicine 94 secured therein in the pillbox 48 and then
places the top 78 in the closed position to secure the unit dose of
medicine 94 therein. The user then places an identification card 108 in
frictional engagement with the top 78 so that the back information
inclicia 120 is readable through the box slot 40 and the dispensing frame
12 with the blister strip cartridge 14 assembled thereto.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those
skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not
limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative
examples shown and described. This has been a description as the present
invention is currently known. However, the invention itself should only be
defined by the appended claims, wherein we claim.
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